The Works of Lord Byron Volume V Part 44

_Bar._ But will the laws uphold us?[69]

_Lor._ What laws?--"The Ten" are laws; and if they were not, I will be legislator in this business.

_Bar._ At your own peril?

_Lor._ There is none, I tell you, 40 Our powers are such.

_Bar._ But he has twice already Solicited permission to retire, And twice it was refused.

_Lor._ The better reason To grant it the third time.

_Bar._ Unasked?

_Lor._ It shows The impression of his former instances: If they were from his heart, he may be thankful: If not, 'twill punish his hypocrisy.

Come, they are met by this time; let us join them, And be _thou_ fixed in purpose for this once.

I have prepared such arguments as will not 50 Fail to move them, and to remove him: since Their thoughts, their objects, have been sounded, do not _You_, with your wonted scruples, teach us pause, And all will prosper.

_Bar._ Could I but be certain This is no prelude to such persecution Of the sire as has fallen upon the son, I would support you.

_Lor._ He is safe, I tell you; His fourscore years and five may linger on As long as he can drag them: 'tis his throne Alone is aimed at.

_Bar._ But discarded Princes 60 Are seldom long of life.

_Lor._ And men of eighty More seldom still.

_Bar._ And why not wait these few years?

_Lor._ Because we have waited long enough, and he Lived longer than enough. Hence! in to council!

[_Exeunt_ LOREDANO _and_ BARBARIGO.

_Enter_ MEMMO[70] _and a Senator_.

_Sen._ A summons to "the Ten!" why so?

_Mem._ "The Ten"

Alone can answer; they are rarely wont To let their thoughts antic.i.p.ate their purpose By previous proclamation. We are summoned-- That is enough.

_Sen._ For them, but not for us; I would know why.

_Mem._ You will know why anon, 70 If you obey: and, if not, you no less Will know why you should have obeyed.

_Sen._ I mean not To oppose them, _but_----

_Mem._ In Venice "_but_"'s a traitor.

But me no "_buts_" unless you would pa.s.s o'er The Bridge which few repa.s.s.[71]

_Sen._ I am silent.

_Mem._ Why Thus hesitate? "The Ten" have called in aid Of their deliberation five and twenty Patricians of the Senate--you are one, And I another; and it seems to me Both honoured by the choice or chance which leads us 80 To mingle with a body so august.

_Sen._ Most true. I say no more.

_Mem._ As we hope, Signor, And all may honestly, (that is, all those Of n.o.ble blood may,) one day hope to be Decemvir, it is surely for the Senate's[br]

Chosen delegates, a school of wisdom, to Be thus admitted, though as novices, To view the mysteries.

_Sen._ Let us view them: they, No doubt, are worth it.

_Mem._ Being worth our lives If we divulge them, doubtless they are worth 90 Something, at least to you or me.

_Sen._ I sought not A place within the sanctuary; but being Chosen, however reluctantly so chosen, I shall fulfil my office.

_Mem._ Let us not Be latest in obeying "the Ten's" summons.

_Sen._ All are not met, but I am of your thought So far--let's in.

_Mem._ The earliest are most welcome In earnest councils--we will not be least so. [_Exeunt_.

_Enter the_ DOGE, JACOPO FOSCARI, _and_ MARINA.

_Jac. Fos._ Ah, father! though I must and will depart, Yet--yet--I pray you to obtain for me 100 That I once more return unto my home, Howe'er remote the period. Let there be A point of time, as beacon to my heart, With any penalty annexed they please, But let me still return.

_Doge_. Son Jacopo, Go and obey our Country's will:[72] 'tis not For us to look beyond.

_Jac. Fos._ But still I must Look back. I pray you think of me.

_Doge_. Alas!

You ever were my dearest offspring, when They were more numerous, nor can be less so 110 Now you are last; but did the State demand The exile of the disinterred ashes Of your three goodly brothers, now in earth,[73]

And their desponding shades came flitting round To impede the act, I must no less obey A duty, paramount to every duty.

_Mar._ My husband! let us on: this but prolongs Our sorrow.

_Jac. Fos._ But we are not summoned yet; The galley's sails are not unfurled:--who knows?

The wind may change.

_Mar._ And if it do, it will not 120 Change _their_ hearts, or your lot: the galley's oars Will quickly clear the harbour.

_Jac. Fos._ O, ye Elements!

Where are your storms?

_Mar._ In human b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Alas!

Will nothing calm you?

_Jac. Fos._ Never yet did mariner Put up to patron saint such prayers for prosperous And pleasant breezes, as I call upon you, Ye tutelar saints of my own city! which Ye love not with more holy love than I, To lash up from the deep the Adrian waves, And waken Auster, sovereign of the Tempest! 130 Till the sea dash me back on my own sh.o.r.e A broken corse upon the barren Lido, Where I may mingle with the sands which skirt The land I love, and never shall see more!

_Mar._ And wish you this with _me_ beside you?

_Jac. Fos._ No-- No--not for thee, too good, too kind! May'st thou Live long to be a mother to those children Thy fond fidelity for a time deprives Of such support! But for myself alone, May all the winds of Heaven howl down the Gulf, 140 And tear the vessel, till the mariners, Appalled, turn their despairing eyes on me, As the Phenicians did on Jonah, then Cast me out from amongst them, as an offering To appease the waves. The billow which destroys me Will be more merciful than man, and bear me Dead, but _still bear_ me to a native grave, From fishers' hands, upon the desolate strand, Which, of its thousand wrecks, hath ne'er received One lacerated like the heart which then 150 Will be.--But wherefore breaks it not? why live I?

_Mar._ To man thyself, I trust, with time, to master Such useless pa.s.sion. Until now thou wert A sufferer, but not a loud one: why What is this to the things thou hast borne in silence-- Imprisonment and actual torture?